Who is Voiceless

Voiceless Legal Advisory Council (LAC) is a collection of Australian animal law experts who collaborate with Voiceless to provide their legal expertise and commentary on animal law education materials and initiatives.

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Anastasia Smietanka

Anastasia Smietanka is a Barrister at the Victorian Bar. In 2015 she was named as one of the most influential individuals in the not-for-profit sector by Pro Bono Australia. In addition to being a barrister, Anastasia is a co-founder and director of the Animal Law Institute (ALI), a not-for-profit national community legal centre that provides pro bono legal representation to animals and their advocates. Most recently, her work has involved strategic litigation to challenge the puppy farming industry and the captivity of dolphins. She is also the co-founder of the Australia New Zealand Intervarsity Moot on Animal Law. Prior to co-founding the Animal Law Institute, Anastasia was involved in the animal law movement for over a decade. She was on the Board of a number of animal rescue charities, as well as the National Co-ordinator of the Barristers Animal Welfare Panel until 2014.

She studied at the University of Melbourne and also completed degrees in Media and Communication and French. She lives in Melbourne with her three fur babies, an assortment of foster dogs and the occasional piglet.